World Rallycross R8 - Loheac, France

[tbtstt]

Three weeks to go and the first driver announcement for Loheac...

World Rallycross - Guerlain Chicherit to JRM

...so seems time for a new thread! I'm hoping for a decent showing from the locals again this year. I wonder if a few British drivers will make the crossing as well?

[BertMk2]

Is it a round of the ERX championship as well? (I lose track of these things!) If so I'd expect a few of the Brits to make an appearance (assuming they survive Lydden the weekend before).

[Hickey]

Sadly not. And it only has one support class, S1600. Last year entries were bolstered by French Division 3, 4 and Logan Cup (I think). 10 cars per category. Filler the gaps in very nicely.

[BertMk2]

In that case the selection of Brits that could make an appearance will be limited to the same few that did the WRX round at Lydden (for the same ECU related reason) shame really but there you go.

Still - the local support classes are usually pretty good.

[tbtstt]

The program is now online:

https://issuu.com/pgermain/docs/48_p...016_205x270_we

Just had a quick skim through and there is a small article on the Twingo Cup towards the back (page 44), so hopefully there will be a complete support package similar to last year.

[1975DCS]

Normally I would consider going to France, but since the disappearance of the ERX I don't think it's worth. Also not because the French won't join the party...

[paul1982]

Originally Posted by 1975DCS

Normally I would consider going to France, but since the disappearance of the ERX I don't think it's worth. Also not because the French won't join the party...

Going now for the 4th time in a Row and can tell you it is One of the best races.
It is not for the French Championship but i can tell you Who already confirmed:
1. P. Solberg
2. A. Bakkerud
3. M. Ekstrom
4. S. Loeb
5. J. Kristofferson
6. T. Hansen
7. K. Block
8. T.* Heikinen
9. A. Marklund
10. T. Timurzyanov
11. J. Baumanis
12. R. Munnich
13. R. Nitiss
14. R. Larsson
15. K. Eriksson
16. N. Gronholm
17. G. Chicherit
18. D. Jeanney
19. K. Hansen
20. F. Salsten
21. P. Maloigne
22. A. Scott
23. J.G.* janine
24. A. Dubourg
25. M. Keersmaecker
26. H. Knapick
27. J.P. Dayraut
28. P. Guillerme
29. P. Nouvelle
30. G. Fossec
31. F. Chanoine
32. F. Caddedu
33. A. Sagnier

Maybe also O'Donnavan, Tohill, Pucher and Galli and otherwise surprises.(max will be 40) and than 35 super1600 Cars max. (They will reach that). And extra the twingo cup.
In Lydden there were 59 Cars over 3 classes. In Belgium you had ERX as well and had a total of 71 Cars.
So the only difference will be the Finals.

I'm going definitly and it will be together with Höljes the highlight of the season!

[1975DCS]

So, some of the ERX contenders have entered the French round of the WRX. That is a decent list!

[Hickey]

Sounds very exciting. I'd be happy with 35 supercars and 35 s1600 plus the Twingo cup (about 20 entrants?).

Take your point about the finals, there's a strong case for a repecharge round when entries are over 30+.

Looking forward to this weekend!

[chunder]

Interesting that some of the guys have simply turned up anyway.

Wonder how much it costs to enter a round as an independent runner?

And perhaps the only lace where this happens other than Sweden.

[tbtstt]

Over 30 supercars (and a full Super 1600 entry) is excellent news! Three weeks to go (and a British round in the meantime), I absolutely cannot wait.

Originally Posted by chunder

Wonder how much it costs to enter a round as an independent runner?

Assuming I am reading the regulations correctly, I believe it's £1,100.

[Hickey]

That sounds like a lot of money to me, but I guess that, compared to other costs of running a supercar for a weekend, it is peanuts

[chunder]

It's a lot of money for an entry fee, but I think about the same as an entry on the RAC rally used to be and about what you would pay to enter in a big race at Goodwood or the Silverstone Classic.

Is WRX able to be compared with those tracks or series, of course not, but as others say compared to running one of these things for a weekend, that is probably a food budget for even an ERX team for the weekend so not much. Be interesting to know what that actually pays for. I don't see many teams using wifi access (they would have to build a mast to do this which would cost money), screens etc. Especially the cost is high when you think you are travelling there from say Scandinavia or the UK, or is that cost assisted in any way?

But this is the age of people spending money on things that have no real value just to be seen, so I am clearly out of touch!!

[crossfades]

It used to be a lot cheaper before to enter a round.

I am a bit surprised that so many decided to enter this round actually. In Höljes only three cars entered that were not permanent in either WRX and ERX and in Norway none, rounds that usually are very popular for Nordic drivers. Loheac will be the most competitive round for sure this season.

[Hickey1]

I imagine the French competitors want to pit themselves against Loeb and in front of a massive French crowd.

[paul1982]

Originally Posted by crossfades

It used to be a lot cheaper before to enter a round.

I am a bit surprised that so many decided to enter this round actually. In Höljes only three cars entered that were not permanent in either WRX and ERX and in Norway none, rounds that usually are very popular for Nordic drivers. Loheac will be the most competitive round for sure this season.

That isn't that strange.
In Norway and Sweden you had ERX as well. That means 25 entrees echt max. Or 20 WRX and 30 ERX. So they have already the maximum entrees.

In France you have a max of 40 Cars. And no ERX. So the ERX drivers that are allowed to start can pick this event to compare them with the WRX drivers.
The French drivers choose mosy of the time the French Championship as more important than ERX or WRX but sees Loheac as the highlight of the year and want to start there as wel..... al together you come to almost 40 supercars in this event.
And yes it will especialy for the regular WRX guys the toughest race of the year!

[crossfades]

Are you sure there is a limit for both series? Last year there was a limit in Höljes and there were drivers that were not allowed to take part, Mats Öhman being one of them. This year I have not heard of anyone not being allowed to drive.
In 1600s however Anitra Nilsen was one driver that was not allowed to drive.

I mean three cars in Sweden and NONE in Norway just dosen't seem right being so popular usually. In that case the permanent drivers would have filled up all spots or drivers that might compete did not think it was worth it. Both feels a bit unlikely unless it really is a limit, too low IMO if it is true, or if costs have become too high.

[Hickey]

There is a limit. The ERX in Mettet was limited to 30 (not sure if anyone was not allowed to compete). What's annoying is that , of course, there's always drop outs and the 30 went down to 24. They should let more in as there are always drop outs.

I think the rules are 30 Max in WRX and ERX but only 50 combined total (and ERX numbers are reduced first to get to 50, but in reality of course it's the WRX with the lower number)

[paul1982]

Each race there is a limit for all classes.
See below:
http://www.fia.com/file/38574/download?token=pc5AJw9B

[paul1982]

ERX and WRX is 25. But if WRX stays under 20 than ERX go up to 30. Besides that it is different per round per class.
In Loheac it is 40 (super 1600 is 35)
Example Buxtehude:
25 supercars 20 s1600 and 20 TC.

[chunder]

Is it perhaps something to do with pit space?

I would have thought the more the merrier, the more cash they steal off people etc!

[crossfades]

Hm okay, thanks for clearing it up for me!

Not sure if it is pit space, could be. Höljes was pretty much forced to make the paddock bigger since they were to have all the classes, bringing over 110 cars in total. Don't know if it effected the limit on different classes.

Rounds with less classes than five could surely have more than the limit.

The WRX teams didn't like driving with ERX before in the heats. Maybe the limit is to make sure that not too many drivers not competing permanently, hinders or take points from permanent drivers?

[tbtstt]

Short article (including a little video) on the rebuild of Solberg's DS3 here:

https://www.nrk.no/sport/slik-ser-so...jen-1.13091303

I thought the comment that stated they were going to "cut the rear of the car off" was a bad translation: that seems to be exactly what they have done though!

[tbtstt]

Forgive the double post, but Nerijus Naujokaitis confirmed to make his World Rallycross debut at Loheac in an R5-based Fabia. Full story here...

http://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/ar...joins-world-rx

...but if you can't be bothered to click, this is what the car will look like:

[paul1982]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Forgive the double post, but Nerijus Naujokaitis confirmed to make his World Rallycross debut at Loheac in an R5-based Fabia. Full story here...

http://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/ar...joins-world-rx

...but if you can't be bothered to click, this is what the car will look like:

Car looks even better in real. Will have a WRC spoiler on it. Looking great. Loheac will be a stunning event!